Newsweek magazine has exposed a well-kept secret—the sex lives of American wives. What they've discovered is startling. An estimated 15 percent of women cheat on their husbands.

Vanessa had an affair that ended her seven-year marriage. A stay-at-home mom with two children, Vanessa said she was desperately lonely for attention as her husband, a pilot, was often not at home.

"At one point, my husband was so fed up with my wanting acknowledgement, he said, 'Why don't you just have an affair then?'" Vanessa says. "So I did. My lover spoiled me rotten with compliments, jewelry, flowers and love notes. Still, I experienced guilt, anger, denial and desperation like you would not have believed. I think my husband was too egotistical to think this could actually happen to him. Nonetheless, I have paid a very steep price in so many ways for my actions."